MA’AN Development Center From Economic Metropolisp to Shrinkingg Cityy

January 2008 The Nablus old city has one OVERVIEW of the oldest souks (covered central markets) in the . It is governorate of the northern one of the most important cies West Bank, located 55 for trade, industry and educaon kilometres north of Jerusalem. in the occupied Palesnian territory (oPt). The city’s The governorate, which is the populaon is predominantly fourth largest in the West Bank, Muslim, with Chrisan and following Hebron, Bethlehem, Samaritan minories. and governorates, There are 56 communies in the extends over a total area of 2 governorate with an esmated 605km . populaon of 345,847 (PCBS mid-year populaon projecon The heart of the governorate, 2003), the populaon of Nablus Nablus city, is the largest city is about 137, 891, or 39.8% Palesnian city in the West of the total populaon in the Map (1): Nablus location map Bank. Its history dates back district. to ancient mes and it is menonedintheOldTestament On the outskirts of Nablus as the Canaanite city of city there are three large and Shekhem. Its present name densely populated refugee derives from the Roman city camps ‘Ein Beit el Ma (5,178 of Flavius Neapolis, which was inhabitants), ‘ (13,064 changed into its current inhabitants) and (18,142 from Nablus in the 8th century. inhabitants).

General view of Nablus and its Old City from Al Tor Mountain

2 Nablus in History The city of Nablus was founded in 72 CE by the Romans. During the subsequent Ooman rule, the city was named “Lile Damascus” and visitors to the town can sll detect some of the strong pan-Arab roots on which this associaon is based. In the 19th century, the city became a major industrial center for olive oil and coon processing. The town’s historic old city includes nine historic mosques, 18 Islamic monuments, an Ayyubid mausoleum and a 17th-century church, as well as Ooman-era palaces and Turkish baths.

Al Naser historic mosque Nablus has boasted 79% of the monotheisc religions. A small vegetable oil processing industry, community of Jewish Samaritans including soap producon, which resides on Mount Gerezim, on the is centered in the old city. Another edge of Nablus. They are recognized important industry has been stone as an official minority and retain quarrying and processing, with 54 one quota seat on the Palesnian quarries (37% of all quarries) located Legislave Council. in the area alongside one-third of Palesnian stone-cung operaons. The city is home to all three Informaon from Costs of Conflict, OCHA & Palesnian Chambers of Commerce

3 It’s Wednesday morning in the Nablus souk and business is slow. One week Nablus in Crisis before the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, the market should be humming with • Forced internal displacement acvity. But last night, December 10, • Transfer of major markets and industries Israeli undercover forces entered the outside of Nablus town and killed a wanted Palesnian. • Unemployment Mosques earlier in the day announced • Destrucon and insecurity caused by Israeli a “haddad” or an unofficial commercial military raids strike. Most shops were open anyway, • Regional inaccessibility of basic services due but the shoppers were few. to encircling Israeli checkpoints “I’ve been here since the morning, and • Isolaon of the city from its hinterlands this is my first sale today,” Yahia Ahmad caused by Israeli selements and their Izzain, 58, said at 11 am, standing behind infrastructure a pile of burnished apples and oranges. A produce seller for decades in one of Nablus’ markets, he has watched the change in the city’s fortunes as it has transformed from the center of West Bank industry to a closed, shrinking city.

While the Nablus nave used to go to and Jericho himself to pick out produce for his stall, these days he can’t get an Israeli permit to cross the checkpoints and is forced to buy from a distributor in town at much higher cost. In any case, “people just don’t have money to buy these days,” he says.

Downtown Nablus on a day of “haddad”. The once-bustling streets are quiet One of Nablus’ vegetable markets on a slow day 4 C«›‘»ÖÊ®ÄãÝ ƒÄ— BùփÝÝ Rʃ—Ý C«›‘»ÖÊ®ÄãÝ ƒÄ— BùփÝÝ Rʃ—Ý

Nablus city, home to 137,891 people, and center for an esmated 345,847 people in Nablus governorate, is surrounded by no less than 106 permanent Israeli military checkpoints, seven of them just outside the city.1

Nablus is disnct from other Palesnian cies because all goods are required to pass through one of two special commercial checkpoints; ‘ and through back-to-back process. At ‘Awarta crossing south of the city, a truck carries goods to one side and a special Back-to-back transfer of goods at Beit Iba checkpoint vehicle removes the products for a security check before they are transferred to another truck on the crossing’s other side. The same “Overall, it is esmated that Palesnians are process is observed for goods entering from restricted from some 41 secons of roads in the West the northwest at Artah crossing (also known Bank covering an approximate distance of 700 km. as at-Tayba), which is a gate in the Apartheid For the most part, the restricted roads are major north-south and east-west transport routes which Wall near Tulkarem. These goods are then only are now reserved for the movement of selers or allowed to enter Nablus city through Beit Iba internaonals. Palesnian drivers and vehicles can 2 checkpoint. Delays, closures, and traffic jams apply for special permits to use these roads, but mar the free transport of food, clothes, and raw “flying checkpoints” (stop and search acvies in materials that are required for the survival of temporary locaons) are rounely in operaon and Nablus markets and factories. applied to most Palesnian vehicles (idenfied by green license plates rather than the yellow plates of “Imagine how long the process takes, how Israeli and selement registered vehicles). Because much special security checking – because for the delays and other problems associated with the the Israelis any security checkpoint is sacred,” “flying checkpoints” add significant uncertainty, cost and risk to the transportaon of goods, they act as says Amjad Nimr of the Nablus Chamber of a further deterrent to Palesnian economic acvity. Commerce. “Somemes the soldiers behave All non-permied Palesnian private and commercial badly, or the goods are ruined in the wait. traffic are forced onto smaller and less-maintained Somemes the goods go through checking two roads and circuitous routes. Moreover, most new or three mes.” roads constructed in the West Bank over the last several years have restricted use by Palesnians. In Palesnians cross on foot through a general, there are no formal wrien orders from the narrow turnsle Military Commander of the West Bank regarding restricons on road usage by Palesnians and according to the Internaonal Law Department of the IDF, military commanders have the right to restrict road usage for security purposes, and it is sufficient to issue such orders verbally.” - From Movement and Access Restricons in the West Bank: Uncertainty and Inefficiency in the Palesnian Economy, World Bank, May 2007

1 The Humanitarian Impact…, OCHA, p. 90. 2 Interview with Amjad Nimr, Nablus Chamber of Commerce, Public Relaons Department, December 11, 2007. 5 Table (1): Checkpoints outside Nablus City Checkpoint outside Route DescripƟon Nablus City Pedestrian crossing with narrow turnsles, watch Southern entrance to towers, detenon rooms, electronic and x-ray Huwara Nablus city checks, gates for cars, permits required for entry and exit of cars Commercial crossing Back-to-back transfer of goods from trucks on each ‘Awarta south of Nablus city side, high-tech security checking Commercial and pedestrian crossing, trucks and Beit Iba Northwest of Nablus city cars require permit, limited hours Similar to Huwara but only for use by and Beit Furik East of Nablus city Beit Dajan residents Watch towers, gates for car passage, Nablus gate to Al Bathan East of Nablus city the Jordan valley Hamra East of Nablus city Similar to Huwara checkpoint East of Aqraba, leads to Car checking lanes, watch towers, passage allowed Ma’ale Efrayim northern West Bank and only for permit holders who are usually workers in Jordan valley Jordan valley Watch towers, car checking lanes, no pedestrians, South of Nablus city, Zaatara main gateway to and from northern governorates of aer Huwara Nablus, Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqilia West of Nablus city to Tayasir Like Ma’ale Efrayim checkpoint the Jordan valley Al-Juneid West of Nablus city Watchtowers, gateway to Qalqilia and Tulkarem

Source: OCHA, checkpoint list provided to Nablus governorate, unpublished data.

Palesnian vehicles at Huwara checkpoint 6 Checkpoints and other physical obstacles surrounding Nablus city

Map (2): From the Humanitarian Impact of Israeli Infrastructure the West Bank - OCHA - Decmber 2007

7 S›ã㽛ÛÄãÝ More North Established before SeƩlements March 2001 Ya’bad Jenin Established after ƒÄ— OçãÖÊÝãÝ Miokdonan Qabatia March 2001 (when Ariel Arrabeh Sharon took office as On January 7, 2008 Israel’s eleventh prime The flow of people is similarly the Israeli newspaper, minister) Tulkarm restricted. Fourteen Israeli Tubas Ha’aretz, published a Shaveh Shamron selements and 26 outposts report on more than Nablus Bek’out Balata (selements established without 100 new Israeli outposts Qalqilia Karneh Shamron Israeli government permits) Alfe Menasheh to be established Oranit Bidya Sh’ari Ariel surround the city of Nablus, Tekva Ma’ale in the West Bank. Salfit and the roads connecng them According to Peace Ale Zahav Efrayim are considered off-limits to Now, about 50 outposts, 3 Palesnians. Special permits are accommodang 3,000 Modi’een Elite (Keryat Safar) required for vehicles to travel on selers, have been Ramallah Giv’at Qalandia these roads. constructed since March Jericho 5 Z’eev 2001. Anata Mitzpe Yeriho Jerusalem Ma’ale In April 2007, only 10% of Nablus Al EzareyyaAdumim buses (22 out of 220) and 7% of The Ha’aretz map (3) Abu Dis Nablus taxis (150 out of 2,250) shows the planned Bitar Ellit Bethlehem had permits to access and use outposts in the West Efrat Bank. Note Nablus area Karmi Tsur the checkpoints around Nablus Halhul city. Only 50 private Palesnian on the map. Hebron Sea Dead The cars were permied to use the 4 checkpoints. Alternave roads Yatta are blocked by various obstacles Addahreyya placed by the Israeli military. Map (3): New Israeli outposts in the West Bank, 2008 Table (2): List of main seƩlements in Nablus governorate Main seƩlements in Nablus Year of Distance from the Green PopulaƟon governorate establishment Line (1967 border) Argaman 1968 166 23.7 Gilgal 1970 162 30.2 Maswa 1970 142 30 Ma’ale Efrayem 1970 1,384 43.7 Git 1973 214 37 Mekhora 1973 114 26.4 Pesta’el 1975 214 34.5 Ro’i 1976 128 15 Nav Hagidud 1976 125 29 Shavei Shomron 1977 606 13.3 Tomer 1978 282 31.2 Elon More 1979 1,314 22 km Shedmot Mehola 1979 536 3.4 Yafit 1980 104 36 Bracha 1983 1,182 23.2 km Migdalim 1983 142 32.7 Ma’ale Levona 1983 556 21.8 1983 673 20.5 Eli 1984 2,420 23.7 km 1984 698 28 Revava 1991 827 12.3 Rotem 2001 18 5.9 Source: Peace Now, Selement List - 2007

3 The Humanitarian Impact…,OCHA, July 2007, p. 90. 4 The Humanitarian Impact…, OCHA, p. 90. 5 Informaon: Ha’aretz and Peace Now – January 7, 2008 and Al Quds newspaper – January 8, 2008 8 E‘ÊÄÊî‘ ƒÄ— HçÃƒÄ R›ÝÊçّ› LÊÝÝ›Ý E‘ÊÄÊî‘ ƒÄ— HçÃƒÄ R›ÝÊçّ› LÊÝÝ›Ý These difficules are compounded by the persistent state of insecurity in the town. Since the outbreak of the Palesnian uprising between Sept. 28, 2000 and Nov. 1, 2007, 635 Palesnians have been killed in Nablus governorate (474 killed in the city alone), and 10, 371 injured.9 Many of those killed were wage-earners. Closed stores in Al Yassamina neighborhood in the old city

Most of these casuales occurred during the Nablus City At A Glance inial invasion of the city in April 2002, which lasted 21 days. Sixty-seven people were killed Nablus city residents killed between Sept. 29, and more than 160 injured, and a total of 151 2000 and Nov. 1, 2007: 474 days of curfew subsequently imposed with only 65 hours of non-curfew me, during Residents of the city killed in 2002 during Israeli which residents were allowed to aend to invasion: 184 food and health needs and bury the dead.10 Nablus hospital reports of injured between Sept. Aerwards, the internaonal community 29, 2000 and Nov. 1 , 2007: 10,371 assessed the cost of repairing resulng damage to public infrastructure, roads and buildings Nablus governorate has more children and women in Israeli jails than any other region (24 in the Nablus governorate at $114 million and of 118 women and 95 of 340 minors as of May restoring Nablus’ historic old city at $42.5 2007), and the longest-held Palesnian prisoner 11 million. (Sa’id al-Atba’, imprisoned for 31 years) is from Nablus.

Damages from January 2008 Israeli The city’s mayor, Adli Ya’eesh, and deputy mayor, Mahdi Hanbali, are both being held in Israeli Invasion in Nablus City administrave detenon (detenon without trial). Homes and Commercial buildings: $180,000 Days of curfew in the city between Jan. 1, 2002 Old City: millions of dollars , losses are sll and June 29, 2007: 312 being assessed Days of closure of the city between Jan. 1, 2002 and Oct. 7, 2007: 255 Informaon from Nablus Chamber of Commerce Stascs from Nablus governorate fact sheet

9 Numbers from Nablus governorate report, 2007. See chart for OCHA breakdown. 10 Costs of Conflict, OCHA, p. 8. 11 “Damage to civilian infrastructure and instuons in the West Bank esmated at $US361 million,” Press Release from Local Aid Coordinaon Commiee Co-Chairs, May 15, 2002. The governorate reports that while many repairs have been made, the restoraon of historic sites has not been completed due to the added cost and experse required. Interview with Anan A, Nablus Governorate, November 27, 2007 9 Damages from June 2007 Israeli Invasion in Nablus City The internaƟonal Commercial buildings: EU 308,834 Water infrastructure: EU 118,000 community assessed Electricity infrastructure: EU 158,570 Health expenditures: EU 110,170 the cost of repairing resulƟng damage to Informaon from Nablus Municipality Report public infrastructure, roads and buildings

Damages from February 2007 in the Nablus Israeli Invasion in Nablus City governorate at $114

Homes, commercial buildings, and million and restoring infrastructure: EU 754,647 Nablus’ historic old Informaon from Nablus Chamber of Commerce city at $42.5 million.

Area of Incursion - Nablus Old City 28 February 2007

Map (4): Source: OCHA 10 E‘ÊÄÊî‘ ƒÄ— HçÃƒÄ R›ÝÊçّ› LÊÝݛÝ

Chart (1): Hours under curfew in Nablus governorate and other West Bank governorates

Hours under curfew in Nablus governrate Hours under curfew in enre WB

Source: OCHA

Chart (2): Palesnian casuales from Israeli aacks in Nablus governorate

Source: Palesnian Red Crescent Society (from 2000 - 2004) & OCHA (from 2005 - 2007)

11 On Feb. 24, 2007, Israeli forces invaded the city for four days, causing damage esmated at EU 754,674.12 More recently, on June 2, 2007, Israeli forces invaded the city and held the old city, a major commercial center, under curfew for 33 hours. An esmated EU 700,00013 was incurred in damages even in this short period. Churches and mosques have been among the buildings damaged in these aacks, according to the municipality.

Pictures from 2002 Israeli incursion

12 Nablus Municipality Report, 2007. 13 Nablus Municipality Report, 2007. When asked why damage esmates for more recent incursions are quite high despite their relavely short me periods, officials cite the high cost of restoring historic sites in the Old City where the Israeli army oen concen- trates, and new Israeli demolions techniques that detonate from the inside out, thereby causing increased damage. 12 E‘ÊÄÊî‘ ƒÄ— HçÃƒÄ R›ÝÊçّ› LÊÝݛÝ

While the governorate has been able to repair many demolished homes, businesses and other exterior damage, destrucon to furniture, personal belongings and personal vehicles were not compensated. One goldsmith had just purchased millions of dollars in machines. His workshop was enrely destroyed, with no opportunity for compensaon.14 The economic costs for the average cizen were immense. But curfews, strikes and demolions by Israeli military forces connue even today.

“Nablus has become the capital of poverty, rather than the capital of industry,” says Acng Mayor Hafez 15 Shaheen. Black curtains wave from a building with its windows shot out, just across from the Nablus municipality, in Jan. 2008. The Ministry of Naonal Economy has esmated that Nablus city has lost $1.2 million a day since the start of the Palesnian uprising in 2000.16

Table (3): Comparave snapshots before and aer the second uprising BEFORE AND AFTER: A SNAPSHOT Before the infada Aer the infada Nablus city’s rate of unemployment 18.2% (1999) 26.3% (2006) (Source: OCHA) Number of checkpoints in the West Bank 12, most in Jerusalem area Over 500 (Source: World Bank) Cost of a box of apples NIS 20-30 NIS 50 (Source: Interview with reseller) (approx. US$ 5 - 7.5) (approx. US$ 12.5) Daily rental of a truck to transport produce NIS 400 NIS 3,000 (Source: Interview with reseller) (approx. US$ 100) (approx. US$ 750) Value of produce sold monthly in Nablus More than NIS 150,000 NIS 2,800 city, as recorded by the ministry17 (Source: Ministry of Agriculture) (approx. US$ 37,500) (approx. US$ 700) Monthly revenues to the Nablus Ministry NIS 1-1.5 million NIS 2,000 of Agriculture from transport and sale of produce (Source: Ministry of Agriculture) (approx. US$ 250 – 375,000) (approx. US$ 500) Palesnian GDP $4,511.7 (1999) $4,150.6 (2006) (Source: PCBS)

14Interview with Anan Ari, Nablus Governorate, November 27, 2007 15November 27, 2007 interview. 16Nablus governorate report, 2007. 17Officials say that post-infada accounng for sales is flawed as the economy has become fragmented. 13 Chart (3): Percentage distribuon of employed manufacturing sector in selected governorates

Source: Palesnian Central Bureau of Stascs (PCBS) labor force data for cited years & Costs of Conflict, OCHA, p. 6 These changes are shaping the Palesnian economy as a whole. The World Bank esmates that internal closures accounted for approximately half of the decline in real GDP (perhaps some 15 percent) observed between 2000 and 2002.18 As shown below, the number of Palesnians employed in manufacturing has steadily declined since 1995. Chart (4): Basic changes in labor force indicators in West Bank from 1995 - 2006 (ILO Standards)

35

Unemployment rate 30 Employed in agriculture 25 Employed in construcon 20

Employed in manufacturing 15

Employed in services 10

Elementary occupaon 5 workers

Cra workers 0

Employed in Israel and 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 selements Source: PCBS

18 An Update on Palesnian Movement, Access and Trade in the West Bank and Gaza, August 2006, World Bank, p. 10 14 E‘ÊÄÊî‘ ƒÄ— HçÃƒÄ R›ÝÊçّ› LÊÝݛÝ

M®ÝݮĦ 㫛 ʽ— —ƒùÝ Jamal Shanr, 51, owns an infamous sweets shop in the Nablus old city. In the ‘90s, it was always teeming with customers, many who had traveled from other West Bank locales just to eat the Nablus famous pastry, knafeh. “There is no work [for us] since the day they established the checkpoints,” he says. He closes his doors in the aer- noon because of the deep insecurity that grips the old city – no one visits its alleys aer dark. Shanrsll runs a decent trade, mak- ing NIS 500-1,000 ($125 - $250) in daily income. But he says these sales are perhaps one percent of the income he used to bring in.

Knafeh, best made in

Nablus, is made fresh and piping hot “

ShanƟrsƟll runs a decent trade, making $125 - $250 in daily income. But he says these sales are perhaps one percent of the income he used to bring in. “ 15 Nablus Security Plan

The Nablus police force has not been able to operate normally in the city since the 2002 invasions. As a result, crime has risen and businesspeople in the city report demands that they pay protecon money to the various armed gangs that have thrived. On November 2, 2007 Palesnian security forces were deployed on the streets of Nablus through a polical agreement reached with Israel. These armed forces are visible today and cizens report a great sense of relief from their presence. However, Israeli troops connue to enter the city and carry out Palesnian security armed with guns and batons control the city’s main circle military raids; the last one was the January 2008 large-scale, full-on invasion that lasted for three days and resulted in massive losses in residenal and commercial building.

Israeli military vehicles invade Al Saqia street in Nablus city where small businesses were destroyed 16 E‘ÊÄÊî‘ D›‘›Äãك½®þƒã®ÊÄ ƒÄ— 㫛 Nƒ½çÝ MƒÙ»›ã

E‘ÊÄÊî‘ 㫛 쮦«ÊٮĦ D›‘›Äãك½®þƒã®ÊÄ ò®½½ƒ¦›Ý ƒ½ÝÊ Ý祥›Ù These producers and buyers once brought ƒÄ— 㫛 Nƒ½çÝ money into the city of Nablus, shopping for their families and conducng business MƒÙ»›ã in the city. The Ministry of Agriculture esmates a 90% decline in the number Perhaps the most obvious indicator of of growers purchasing goods in the the decline of Nablus as a commercial city.20 A study by UNSCO in 2005 showed center is the transformaon that has how areas outlying Nablus were being taken place in its central produce market reshaped economically by the closure of on the eastern side of the city. In a trend the city. that observers say only became marked some months aer the April 2002 Israeli Table (4): Change in number of shops in neighboring incursions, producers stopped bringing villages by 2005 their goods to the Nablus market, Community outlying Change in the number preferring instead to sell them in new Nablus City of shops by 2005 produce markets established in Beita Huwara -57 (south of Nablus) , Fara’a (northeast of -17 Nablus) and Qabaya (north of Nablus). -1 Zeita Jama’in -1 Delays for geng sensive vegetables and Duma 3 fruits into the city were too risky. 41 Jaba’ 62 The effects of this have been manifold. ‘Asira Ashamaliya 119 Beita 193 The municipality owns the market, and is Source: OCHA, “Costs of Conflict”, p. 10 now deprived the revenues of its vendors, who have moved elsewhere. Revenues Buyers and homemakers all used to come to Nablus city to get collected from renng the market’s booths the best cheeses, pickles and olive oil. Now this downtown store is empty of shoppers have declined from NIS 5.19 million ($1.3 million) in 2000 to NIS 509,290 ($127,323) in 2006.19 The city reports having been forced to shut down several of the market’s industrial refrigerators in order to save money. It has tried to meet with producers to work out how to reacvate the market, but with no success; many stalls remain closed and empty, in part because the vendors are unable to pay outstanding debts to the municipality. The number of people working in the market has declined by 75%, reports the municipality.

19 “Review of the Humanitarian Situaon in the occupied Palesnian territory for 2004”, OCHA, April 2005 & Nablus governorate report, 2007. 20 Interview with Majdi Aqwdi, Nablus Ministry of Agriculture, November 27, 2007. 17 On the micro-level, the ripple Table (5): Number of Israeli permits issued to Nablus merchants effect of this transformaon is 2002 2003 2004 2007 striking. One cheese reseller was Number of registered Approx. 5,154 5,350 5,678 formerly a relavely wealthy man, merchants 7,000 vacaoning abroad and providing Number of issued 647 870 1,957 1,300 well for his large family. But when permits village cheese producers stopped Source: Nablus Chamber of Commerce & Costs of Conflict, OCHA, p. 16 bringing their products to the city because it was more profitable An addional result of the to sell the cheese themselves, decentralizaon of Nablus-area he lost big. (Between 2000 and produce sales has been instability 2002, the annual value of dairy for the consumer. Where once the product imports to Nablus city fell Nablus market set prices for the from $462,200 to $38,620.21 The enre northern West Bank and Ministry of Agriculture says that the Jericho region, currently the combinaon of disease that agricultural products are spreads because veterinarians distributed from a number can’t get past Israeli checkpoints in of different areas and me, and spoilage of cheese, milk their prices vary. and yoghurt at the checkpoints has brought about a 40% decline in the enre sector in the oPt.22 ) Forced to choose between feeding his family or paying his debts, this reseller stopped paying his electricity bills. Now he owes the municipality over NIS 4,000 (approximately $1,000). The municipality is currently owed NIS 230,000 ($57,500) and is itself in debt NIS 200,000 ($50,000).23 Between 2000 and 2002, the annual value of dairy product imports to Nablus city fell from $462,200 to $38,620

18 FÊّ›— IÄã›Ùă½ D®ÝÖ½ƒ‘›Ã›Äã

FÊّ›— Guiding Principles on Internal IÄã›Ùă½ Displacement 1. Every human being shall have the right to be protected against being arbitrarily displaced D®ÝÖ½ƒ‘›Ã›Äã from his or her home or place of habitual resi- dence. While no definite numbers are available, 2. The prohibion of arbitrary displacement anecdotal evidence suggests that these includes displacement: strains are taking their toll in the form (a) When it is based on policies of apartheid, “ethnic cleansing” or similar pracces aimed of forced internal displacement out of at/or resulng in altering the ethnic, religious or Nablus city. Because jobs are no longer racial composion of the affected populaon; as available inside the town, workers (b) In situaons of armed conflict, unless the are leaving to find jobs in other towns, security of the civilians involved or imperave parcularly Ramallah, which was once a military reasons so demand; 40-minute drive south. Companies are (c) In cases of large-scale development projects, either closing their doors or opening which are not jusfied by compelling and over- riding public interests; branches in Ramallah. These changes (d) In cases of disasters, unless the safety and have been so dramac as to reverse the health of those affected requires their evacua- Nablus governorate’s standing as the on; and main manufacturing center in the West (e) When it is used as a collecve punishment. Bank, with Ramallah governorate taking 3. Displacement shall last no longer than re- its place. quired by the circumstances.

From the Office of the UN High Commissioner for On November 26, 2007, the UN General Human Rights Assembly empowered UNRWA to assist Palesnians who have been internally displaced. This measure comes alongside heightened concern from internaonal agencies that groups of Palesnians are being newly displaced through Israel’s selement policy and the construcon of the Apartheid Wall.

Officials in both the Nablus municipality and the governorate express concern that their city is being emped of people as a result of Israel’s closure of the city and the resulng loss of markets, policies that are linked to Israel’s selement scheme for the Nablus area, the creaon of infrastructure for the use of Jews and not Arabs, and Israel’s collecve punishment of Nablus residents.

19 “I am a mother of three, and all three are pushing me to leave this place,” says Anan Ari, director general in the Nablus governorate. Her 18-year- old son is already in Jordan, and her 16-year-old “can’t go play, can’t parcipate in acvies, can’t travel the checkpoints, but sees the world on the internet. They don’t want luxury, they just want any place that is more safe.”

UN OCHA’s data on house demolions is an important, albeit insufficient, indicator of forced displacement as a phenomenon. Over the past two years (since May 2005), OCHA has recorded the demolion of 15 structures in Nablus city and three of its refugee camps. Thirteen of these structures were residenal and their demolion resulted in the displacement of 225 people (including 38 children).24

An informal survey carried out in the summer of 2007 by Save the Children Over the past two UK found that Palesnians are moving away from their homes in response years (since May 2005), to home demolions, selement or infrastructure construcon that blocks OCHA has recorded Palesnian building and movement, the demoliƟon of 15 and direct evicons by Israeli forces, or to escape violence carried out by structures in Nablus city Israeli selers. These triggers are almost prevalent in areas of Israeli and three of its refugee selement. The Nablus area was idenfied as one of three areas in the camps. Thirteen of West Bank (alongside southern Hebron these structures were and the Jordan Valley) where internal displacement is underway. Many residenƟal and their Nablus residents are moving further south, the study showed, oen to demoliƟon resulted in other urban areas. the displacement of 225 people (including 38 children). 24 Communicaon with OCHA staff, December 2007. “ 20 SãÊÙ®›Ý Ê¥ —®ÝÖ½ƒ‘›— ֛ÊÖ½›

SãÊÙ®›Ý Ê¥ —®ÝÖ½ƒ‘›— ֛ÊÖ½› One 34-year-old engineer from a Nablus family has recently decided to move his wife and young son to Ramallah. He has been employed in a Ramallah- based company since 1998, first living in the town and then commung daily since his wedding four years ago to a young woman from Nablus. Somemes he has been forced to sleep on a cot in his office when checkpoints are closed or there is a curfew in effect. The engineer reports spending 2-2.5 hours traveling from Nablus to Ramallah daily, and another 1-1.25 hours returning in the aernoon. The reason for his recent decision to move, however, is financial. He can no longer afford the NIS 800 ($200) he must spend on transportaon every month on his management-level salary of NIS 3,500 ($875). When he moves, he will sell the apartment he now owns in Nablus in order to afford housing in Ramallah. He is also looking for work for his wife in Ramallah to help pay for the higher cost of living. He doesn’t think it would be possible to find employment in Nablus.

21 “The opportunies in the city and then carry it back Ramallah were more than to the village?” those in Nablus, even before the infada,” says another While many smaller Nablus 34-year-old engineer from businesses have moved Nablus. “Once the Palesnian their investments outside of Authority came back to the the city, some of the city’s Palesnian territories, all of the most important commercial ministries were established in enterprises have also quietly Ramallah and companies built moved their resources to there in order to be close to Ramallah. them. Investment in Ramallah was much greater than that in “Nablus is not the city Nablus.” that we once knew, He found work in Ramallah in where people came from his field and commuted back Ramallah, Jerusalem and forth. But with the start and even from inside of the infada in September Israel to visit.” 2000, “life became very hard.” He rented a flat in Ramallah – Nave Nablus businessman who with other friends from Nablus has moved his center of life to and started returning home Ramallah every two weeks, and then every several months, because one trip one way could take The city of Nablus recently as long as eight hours. Several established several job creaon years ago, he was given the programs to try to stem the de investment opportunity of people leaving the city. If the of buying an apartment in problem remains unaddressed, Ramallah (he wasn’t thinking however, experience shows that of living in it). Later, when he the long-term consequences of became engaged to a Ramallah internal displacement are: food nave, they decided to furnish insecurity, reduced agricultural the apartment and start a life producon, increased in the town where he works. dependence upon aid imports, heightened poverty, inadequate He says he can name 12-15 living condions, loss of companies that have closed industry and local economies, a their offices in Nablus, or shi to small-scale subsistence, downsized and opened and an increase in threatened new branches in Ramallah. populaons and urbanizaon. “Investors have started to From a polical perspecve, the move from Nablus to other decline and emptying of Nablus places, not only Ramallah but city means the strengthening the villages around Nablus,” and legimizaon of Israel’s he says. “The city’s economy illegal selement of the doesn’t only depend on its northern occupied West Bank residents, but on the villagers. and further cantonizaon of Why buy a kilo of potatoes in Palesnian land.

22 From a poliƟcal perspecƟve, the decline and emptying of Nablus city means the strengthening and legiƟmizaƟon of Israel’s illegal seƩlement of the northern occupied West Bank and further cantonizaƟon of PalesƟnian land.

23 Sources

Labor Force Survey, October- December, Q3 2007, Palesnian Central Bureau of Stascs

“Beit Iba checkpoint re-expanded and forfied despite Israeli words of ‘peace’ and closure-liing, August 16, 2007, ARIJ

Quarterly Economic and Social Monitor, July 2007, Palesnian Central Bureau of Stascs

The Humanitarian Impact on Palesnians of Israeli Selements and Other Infrastructure in the West Bank, July 2007, OCHA

OCHA Situaon Report Nablus, February 2007

Peace Now, Selement List - 2007

An Update on Palesnian Movement, Access and Trade in the West Bank and Gaza, August 2006, World Bank

Costs of Conflict, “Nablus aer Five Years of Conflict”, December 2005, OCHA

Nablus – Bio Data, OCHA, November 2004

The Impact of Closure and Other Mobility Restricons on Palesnian Pro- ducve Acvies, January 1, 2002 - June 30, 2002, UNSCO

Picture credit: MA’AN, Nablus Governorate, and Ala’ Badarneh

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